Texas's Drastic Abortion Law Closer to Passing Even After Absurd Rape Kit Comment

Even as 800 demonstrators packed the Capitol with pro-choices signs — and after the wrenching testimonies of hundreds of Texans who traveled to Austin to beg them not to — Texas legislators have given preliminary approval to Senate Bill 5, a full-scale attack on abortion clinics in the state which involves banning abortions after 20 weeks, shuttering 30 of the state's 40 abortion facilities, and limiting abortion to surgical centers.

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Basically, it would render abortions obsolete in Texas. (Why these lawmakers never seem concerned that women will still abort, but resort to horrific measures and back-alley procedures to do so, has always been a total mystery to me.)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: We should probably not be allowing restrictions on American women's abortion rights made by people who literally do not know their biology. Contrary to popular conservative pundits' belief, babies are not dropped down to Earth by way of storks clutching the New Testament in their talons.

While usually it's male politicians who stumble on the most basic reproductive concepts, this time it was a conservative woman's gaffe. When one Democratic state senator called for exceptions to Senate Bill 5 in the case of rape or incest, Texas Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (R-Parker) attempted to explain why that should not be so. Key word being "attempted."

"In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out," she said according to Time, likening a rape kit to an abortion. "The woman had five months to make that decision, at this point we are looking at a baby that is very far along in its development."

In case you didn't figure it out, the "cleaned out" comment is completely inaccurate, thus proving that this person has no idea what a rape kit is or how women's bodies work (her own body, for that matter! Someone give her a hand mirror!) A rape kit collects evidence of a potential sexual assault, such as blood and other fluids. But it is not the equivalent of an abortion WHATSOEVER. Nevertheless, SB 5 passed 97-33, because ignorance does not bother us as much as the idea of women running around with rights and stuff.